Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed again on reining in inflation in the country through various efforts and government policies alongside preventing unnecessary expenditure and wastage of the public fund, reports BSS.
The premier gave the directive while chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) as its chairperson held at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Prime Minister once again put emphasis on reducing further the inflation rate through various government measures and policies.
"But, it's not possible to bring down inflation by force or overnight. We've brought down inflation over the last four months and I think the inflation rate will also decline in the outgoing month," he added.
Mannna said the Prime Minister also underscored the need for averting wastage and unnecessary expenditure of the public fund. "But, necessary expenditure should have to continue, otherwise the economy will not move forward," he said quoting the Prime Minister as saying.
The premier also directed all the concerned executing agencies to complete those projects with high priority which are nearing completion or have witnessed up to 90 percent implementation rate.
Referring to joining of Bangladesh in the New Development Bank (NDB), an initiative of BRICS, Sheikh Hasina said the NDB gas opened up a new window for Bangladesh as the country would now be able to take loans from the bank apart from other lenders like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, AIIB and IsDB.
"This is the sign of our enhanced capacity and now we'll be able to take loans from where we'll get better outcomes through negotiations," she added.
Answering to a question about the joining of Bangladesh into the BRICS, Mannan said Bangladesh in this regard is already in the 'Verenda’ of a house and waiting to enter the main room with other countries.'
He said Bangladesh has availed one percent share into the NDB of BRICS and hopefully the country would join the BRICS in future through completion of some formalities.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
